The War of 1812 started in 1812 after neutral U.S. merchants were being targeted by both French and British. U.S. shipping was put on hold and tariffs were put on all foreign goods. Eventually trade resumed, but the relationship with Britain was already tense, and with the pressure to go to war with Britain and the kidnappings of American merchants, war was inevitable. Britain aggravated the situation by blockading the us coastline. many us politicians wanted to use the situation to remove britain from the Midwest. Also, Florida was a desired area of lands. In this time, there was some talk about splitting the union but the Hartford convention, did not wish to take such a drastic step, instead, they talked of restricting some federal powers instead.
Invasion of D.C.
In addition British troops invaded D.C. in 1814 and burned the white house eliminating any peace that may have been created. creating havoc in the surrounding towns. after this catastrophe the British led an attack on Baltimore but were hopelessly defeated and forced to retire from there campaign in the north. yet the British kept up there blockade. This eventually led the british to rethink there campaign strategy. and brought about the most bloody battle of the war, the Battle of New Orleans
Battle of New Orleans
The fighting in Louisiana was really a series of battles for New Orleans, lasting from December 1814 through January 1815. the final battle took place after the peace treaty was signed(the news had not yet reached the U.S. or british forces. yet, for early America the Battle of New Orleans, was an extremely important symbol of hope, superiority, and American victory. On the battleground, soldiers, sailors, and militia, including Indians and African Americans, led by Andrew Jackson, defeated Britain's finest white and black troops from Europe and the West Indies. The Battle of New Orleans also marked the state's political incorporation into the Union, and solidified Jackson's fame and heroism. Over all, the Americans won the war and opened up the Midwest to US expansion
British interfere with American expansion into the western frontier
Southerners want Florida, which is owned by British's ally Spain
War Hawks want to expel Britain completely from North America
Effect (1):
Revealed need for a strong standing army
Encouraged American nationalism
Brought end to the Federalist Party
Shattered the strength of Native Americans resistance
Paved the way for American acquisition of Florida
Andrew Jackson was the leader of the Americans who invaded New Orleans. (2)
Treaty of Ghent
After the treaty of Ghent was signed by both the British and Americans, the Americans attacked the British at the Battle of New Orleans. Americans were unaware of the treaty of Ghent because it took over a month for the news to reach Americans due to ships slow speed. Finding out after their victory in New Orleans, the Americans saw the Treaty of Ghent as a triumph because they believed Jackson, the American leader, had forced this treaty after they won. the treaty rstored pre-war boudries, but did not address the issues of neutrality of impressments.(1)
The Hartford Convention (1)
Americans, after the war, took pride in the strength of their country. Because the federalists opposed the war at the beginning, they looked weak once the war was over. The Fedealists of New England met in Hartford for the Hartford Convention to discuss making a peace treaty with Britain. Instead, they demanded political power for New England. This demand reached Washington, D.C. at the same time as the treaty of New Orleans. this made the Federalists seem like traitors which caused them to lose power.
The Nation Continues to Grow (1)
With the defeat of the Native Americans, land opened up in the South for new settlers. This new land led to the establishment of Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois, and Alabama. Americans also went to Spanish Florida which caused conflict with the Indians and the Spanish in this region. Spain then decided to give Florida to the United States to end the conflict. In return, the U.S gave Texas to Spain as part of the Adams-Onis Treaty.
As the war ended-coming into the aftermath
"The commissioners signed a treaty on Dec. 24, 1814. Based on the status quo antebellum (the situation before the war), the Treaty of Ghent did not resolve the issues that had caused the war, but at that point Britain was too weary to win it, and the U.S. government deemed not losing it a tolerable substitute for victory. Nevertheless, many Americans became convinced that they had won the contest."(3)
"Unaware of the treaty, British forces under Edward Pakenham assaulted NewOrleans on Jan. 8, 1815, and were soundly defeated by Andrew Jackson’s ragtag army, an event that contributed to the notion of a U.S. triumph. The unanimous ratification by the U.S. Senate of the Treaty of Ghent and the celebrations that followed cloaked the fact that the United States had achieved none of its objectives."(3)
"Contention in the United States had hobbled the war effort, and domestic disaffection had menaced the Union, but after the war a surge of patriotism inspired Americans to pursue national goals. Contrary to American expectations, Canada remained British and eventually developed its own national identity, partly from pride over repulsing U.S. invasions. Meanwhile, Britain’s influence among the northwestern Indians was forever ended, and American expansion in that region proceeded unchecked. In the South, the Creek War opened a large part of that region for settlement and led to the events that persuaded Spain to cede Florida to the United States in 1821."(3)
"The most enduring international consequence of the war was in the arbitration clauses of Ghent, perhaps the treaty’s most important feature. Its arrangements to settle outstanding disagreements established methods that could adapt to changing U.S. administrations, British ministries, and world events. There lay the seeds of an Anglo-American comity that would weather future disagreements to sustain the longest unfortified border in the world." (3)
Table of Contents
War of 1812
By Jim Folger and Mike NasonThe War of 1812 started in 1812 after neutral U.S. merchants were being targeted by both French and British. U.S. shipping was put on hold and tariffs were put on all foreign goods. Eventually trade resumed, but the relationship with Britain was already tense, and with the pressure to go to war with Britain and the kidnappings of American merchants, war was inevitable. Britain aggravated the situation by blockading the us coastline. many us politicians wanted to use the situation to remove britain from the Midwest. Also, Florida was a desired area of lands. In this time, there was some talk about splitting the union but the Hartford convention, did not wish to take such a drastic step, instead, they talked of restricting some federal powers instead.
Invasion of D.C.
In addition British troops invaded D.C. in 1814 and burned the white house eliminating any peace that may have been created. creating havoc in the surrounding towns. after this catastrophe the British led an attack on Baltimore but were hopelessly defeated and forced to retire from there campaign in the north. yet the British kept up there blockade. This eventually led the british to rethink there campaign strategy. and brought about the most bloody battle of the war, the Battle of New OrleansBattle of New Orleans
The fighting in Louisiana was really a series of battles for New Orleans, lasting from December 1814 through January 1815. the final battle took place after the peace treaty was signed(the news had not yet reached the U.S. or british forces. yet, for early America the Battle of New Orleans, was an extremely important symbol of hope, superiority, and American victory. On the battleground, soldiers, sailors, and militia, including Indians and African Americans, led by Andrew Jackson, defeated Britain's finest white and black troops from Europe and the West Indies. The Battle of New Orleans also marked the state's political incorporation into the Union, and solidified Jackson's fame and heroism. Over all, the Americans won the war and opened up the Midwest to US expansion(Mike and Jim) Sources: http://www.gatewayno.com/history/War1812.html
http://www.historycentral.com/1812/
http://www.galafilm.com/1812/e/intro/index.html
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/jd/16314.htm
http://www.essortment.com/all/warof_rmfy.htm
http://www.danielhaston.com/history/war-1812/neworleans-battle.htm
Prentice Hall United States History Book
War's Aftermath and Effects
Cause and Effect:
Cause (1):
- British interfere with American shipping
- British interfere with American expansion into the western frontier
- Southerners want Florida, which is owned by British's ally Spain
- War Hawks want to expel Britain completely from North America
Effect (1):Treaty of Ghent
As the war ended-coming into the aftermath
- "The commissioners signed a treaty on Dec. 24, 1814. Based on the status quo antebellum (the situation before the war), the Treaty of Ghent did not resolve the issues that had caused the war, but at that point Britain was too weary to win it, and the U.S. government deemed not losing it a tolerable substitute for victory. Nevertheless, many Americans became convinced that they had won the contest."(3)
- "Unaware of the treaty, British forces under Edward Pakenham assaulted NewOrleans on Jan. 8, 1815, and were soundly defeated by Andrew Jackson’s ragtag army, an event that contributed to the notion of a U.S. triumph. The unanimous ratification by the U.S. Senate of the Treaty of Ghent and the celebrations that followed cloaked the fact that the United States had achieved none of its objectives."(3)
- "Contention in the United States had hobbled the war effort, and domestic disaffection had menaced the Union, but after the war a surge of patriotism inspired Americans to pursue national goals. Contrary to American expectations, Canada remained British and eventually developed its own national identity, partly from pride over repulsing U.S. invasions. Meanwhile, Britain’s influence among the northwestern Indians was forever ended, and American expansion in that region proceeded unchecked. In the South, the Creek War opened a large part of that region for settlement and led to the events that persuaded Spain to cede Florida to the United States in 1821."(3)
- "The most enduring international consequence of the war was in the arbitration clauses of Ghent, perhaps the treaty’s most important feature. Its arrangements to settle outstanding disagreements established methods that could adapt to changing U.S. administrations, British ministries, and world events. There lay the seeds of an Anglo-American comity that would weather future disagreements to sustain the longest unfortified border in the world." (3)
The Battle at New Orleans (4)
(1) Prentice Hall United States History Book(2) Picture- http://www.facedeluxe.com/pics/andrewjackson.jpg
(3) http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/181068/War-of-1812/261173/Final-stages-of-the-war-and-the-aftermath
(4) Picture- http://haysvillelibrary.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/battle-of-new-orleans.jpg